Isabelle Huang

Given my interest in the media and entertainment industry, I sought to find an internship that would give me exposure to work with celebrities and publicists. To my good fortune, in October 2009, I had the opportunity to start working as an events and marketing intern at Los Angeles Confidential Magazine (LAC). While this position requires responsibilities such as being able to do research and compile media lists, my emphasis is on the Limelight section for both the in-book magazine and the online newsletter. I essentially inquire into recent high-profile events that take place in Los Angeles, like the American Music Awards and the Golden Globes, and select a few images that capture the essence of the occasion. The online newsletter enhances publicity and coverage for LAC, as it gives access to those who do not subscribe to the printed version of the magazine a chance to read the latest news. Working at LAC has exposed me to many future opportunities in the entertainment industry resembling positions as a publicist, public relations specialist, manager, or a CEO of a magazine or company. I am interested in this internship because it gives me a chance to put my knowledge and discipline in communication to use. My interactions with many experienced professionals have challenged me to be more professional in a work setting. I am also able to give my input and offer creative ideas on how to make the next issue of LAC better and more appealing to readers. Given the fact that this magazine is published ten times a year, my position as an intern has given me more responsibilities to reach out to clients and respect monthly deadlines with image selections and journal entries. Being a part of the events and marketing department for LAC has established the kind of work and atmosphere I want to be in once I graduate from the University of Southern California. Here is a link to the artifact.

It might be easy to think that we have come far from the Gay Rights Movement days, gaining equality and justice for all, but homosexuality has been and continues to be a highly controversial topic. The U.S. Military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy has generated political popularity and has even become one of President Obama's main concerns. More locally, California's Proposition 8 continues to be a debatable topic since many individuals were left unsatisfied with the outcome in 2008. While the political arena is filled with contentious opinions on sexual diverseness, the media have taken a more direct approach in addressing the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. In contemporary society, television shows feature more LGBT characters similar to Oscar Nunez from The Office, Adam Lambert from American Idol, and Christian Siriano from Project Runway. Recently, the newly aired program, Glee, has started to tackle controversial messages about homosexuality, and it is including more accurate sexual representations. Although I have previously argued that the media perpetuate inaccurate racial depictions, in the case of sexual representations, the television industry attempts to present accurate and real-life struggles with self-realization and public acceptance to homosexuality. Indeed, despite hostile viewpoints on gay issues, the media are one of the most creative and popular places to discuss this heated topic.

Glee, which airs on FOX, is about a high school choir known as the Glee club. This show has been commended for its successful attempt to address sexual diversity. Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) president Jarrett Barrios declared that "to see a story line that reflects the anxiety that [gays] have, and for that character to get reinforcement that being gay isn't an illness or a perversion, that kind of message is extraordinarily powerful." Barrios' claim clearly indicates that television programs resembling Glee have become inclusive to represent diverse sexual representations. In a recent article titled "Gays, Lesbians Getting Better Showcase on U.S. TV," author Jill Serjeant stated that "American TV viewers are seeing more gay, lesbian and transgender characters on their screens and story lines are better reflecting current issues in the gay community." Her declaration was supported by a recent study conducted by GLAAD, which indicated that there was a significant increase in LGBT characters on mainstream networks such as ABC, NBC, Fox, and The CW. What amazes me is that, regardless of the commotion surrounding this subject, the media are one of the most prominent arenas whereby contended issues are addressed while simultaneously appealing to a broader audience. The media continue to perpetuate stereotypes, but shows like Glee have made serious attempts to accurately portray various sexually oriented people. In doing so, more people seem interested and open to learn about diverse communities. Television shows move toward representing diverse characters, and yet it is also important to be mindful to those who strongly oppose homosexual behavior.

Current statistics indicate that gay characters on television shows have increased, and yet many spectators continue to advocate that homosexuality is "morally wrong." Nathan A. Cherry essentially argues that people who experiment with sexuality participate in sinful behavior because they go against the conventional ways of relationships and marriage between a man and a woman. What is more relevant is that individuals can relate to rapper Warren G's statement that homosexual appearances on television shows are a bad influence to children because they illustrate inappropriate activities like kissing, arguing that "such acts are not what people were originally put here to do."  Even though CBS has included two homosexual brothers on an episode of The Amazing Race, the fact that the network does not have regular gay characters--especially given its large audience--clearly indicates that spectators continue to have opposing viewpoints on homosexuality. What leads to even more debate is that scripted gay series have continued to decline on mainstream cable networks.

While individuals might protest against homosexual characters on cable networks, basic channels continue to reach out to more diverse audiences. Said President Barrios, "the steady increase in gay characters is promising, as are story lines that are becoming 'more reflective on current issues affecting our lives.'" Various sexual representations of characters have the potential to greatly influence beliefs on equality. We are still trying to find a compromise between controversial gay issues, yet the media are moving towards a more equal and positive direction in conveying diverse characters. The fourth episode of Glee clearly symbolizes Kurt Hummel's (played by Chris Colfer) emotional struggles for acceptance when he finally decides to openly admit that he is gay. I feel that this episode encapsulates the essence of the hardships that minorities face, from public scrutiny to a longing for acceptance. Although Glee continues to illustrate precise media images and constructions, the concept of diverse sexual representations on television shows can be applied on a wider spectrum. My stance is best summarized in Barrios' statement that "the presence of gays, lesbians, bisexual and transgender characters on the small screen helps Americans 'come to accept and better understand their LGBT family members and neighbors.'" This does not suggest a biased opinion as much as a better understanding of minority groups. Gay characters on broadcast networks allow viewers to understand the tensions LGBT people deal with when they confront their true identity and struggle for public approval.

Gay issues are still a politically and religiously charged topic. On one hand, many advocate better sexual representations, and they support more definitive renditions of diverse sexuality in the media. Others disagree with homosexual behavior-- marriage and parenting to name a few--because they violate conventional and traditional values. However, aside from discussions about gay issues, the television industry has taken initiative to represent multifaceted crowds and address this matter. Drama and comedy series are in no way flawless, but I commend their efforts to be more inclusive with the LGBT community. Popular programs like Glee have already made a significant impact in exposing the public to minority groups.  So, while politics and religion continue their search for common grounds, sexual representations of characters are moving toward a positive direction through realistic storylines and careful presentations of sexual diversity.

How much of your health are you willing to risk in order to enhance physical beauty? As I have previously mentioned that media representations play a role in individuals' perceptions of their physical image, it is also important to examine the reasons why we choose to partake in beauty and performance enhancements, regardless of the consequences. For instance, I am aware of the fact that uncomfortable footwear can cause serious damage to my body, but I am one of many women who wear high heels to work everyday. Studies have shown that improper footwear can eventually lead to back problems and other serious physical conditions, and yet, it is
important to ask ourselves: why do women continue to wear them? Given my interest in the fashion and entertainment industries, I decided to address New York Times blogger and podiatrist Marlene Reid's post entitled, "Why We Love the Shoes that Hurt Us." Reid, who is also a spokesperson for the American Podiatric Medical Association, focuses on the health issues--both mild and severe--regarding high heels. The post correlates to the recent event, Fashion Week in Paris, which featured excessively high heels (as seen to the left) on the runway.  While I am commenting on the possible health issues around high heels, my assesments can also be applied to other risks that people are willing to take for physical beauty enhancements. For convenience, I have posted my response to Reid's post below.

"Why We Love the Shoes that Hurt Us"

Comment

Thank you, Marlene, for your informative comment regarding the reasons why women love to wear high heels. Despite research studies that have shown the negative impact pumps have on foot health, many women, including myself, continue to wear them. As someone who has had experience on the runway, I often found myself walking in stilettos whether it was at work or at an evening event. Even though I knew that there were potential hazards, I took for granted the physical trauma it would have if I continued to wear uncomfortable shoes. Editor Tina Sloan the New York Times also comments on the same article, stating, "I feel pretty in [high heels], and I love seeing myself in the reflection of store windows as I parade past, and maybe that is as important as anything." After reading your post, I am more aware that simple choices like wearing high heels can actually pose serious health risks. One thing that caught my attention was that improper footwear might be the reason why I have back problems and poor posture. I appreciate your assertion that "most women do need to make healthier shoe choices." It is hard to stop wearing high heels, especially since I wear them to events such as interviews and meetings, but your entry allows me to make educated decisions the next time I want to wear heels to a formal occasion.

Although wearing exceedingly tall footwear is not as life threatening as other beauty procedures such as cosmetic surgery, people are willing to risk their life in order to amplify their physical appearances. I agree with your declaration that women need to take care of their feet, and yet many people like Sloan feel more confident when they wear heels even though they are bad for their bodies.  You clearly state that "keeping your feet healthy and comfortable does not mean giving up fashion," but I wonder if you think women can compromise between achieving their goal of physical beauty and maintaining good health? For instance, the shoe company, Cole Haan, has recently teamed up with Nike Air to produce high heels that are both comfortable and fashionable. This post focuses on the reasons why women love to wear high heels despite the fact that they are unhealthy, but the issue can also be applied to other actions that individuals are willing to risk their life for--cosmetic surgery, steroids, and smoking to name a few. Ultimately, I think it is important to discuss health concerns of any action or procedure we take, not limiting to high heels, so that we can be more conscious of the choices that we make.

This week, I decided to scour the Web for the best assets in communication, with an emphasis on the entertainment industry, and for convenience have added a combination of useful blogs and websites to the Recommended Sites on the sidebar.  My decisions were guided by the Webby Awards, which comprised of a set of criteria--content, structure and navigation, and visual design--that required websites to be  accurate and noteworthy.  For instance, the World News Network to be particularly suitable, since it directed me to news sources such as World Celebrity. This website also linked to other applicable sites about Hollywood, fashion, and the entertainment industry. Furthermore, the Google and Yahoo Directories navigated me to valuable sites that included The Examiner, Inform, and ABC News. Similarly, Boston, Reuters, and Fashion Wire Daily provided a profitable amount of informative articles on recent media issues.  Ultimately, I found that News (pictured above) was the most beneficial website because the content not only included relevant information within articles and texts, but also contained videos and pictures that enhanced the site. News was a catchy website that had good functionality; the articles and videos loaded quickly, and there were live links that led viewers to outside sources on the Web. Inherent to the viable websites that pertained to communication were the intellectually savvy blogs that I discovered.

While there were many helpful search tools on the Web, the most productive blog engines were BlogCatalog and Technorati. To legitimize my findings, I used the 21st Century Information Fluency, which entails that content depth, blog bias, and blog usefulness are key factors to consider when searching for appropriate blogs.  Some of the blogs that were instrumental included NPR, Socyberty, and Guardian. Other intuitive blog sites offered more input on the latest entertainment and media issues, including Huffington Post, The Frisky, and The Root. Perhaps the most dynamic blog was Diverse Education because it offered a particular opinion while providing additional outside sources within the contents. One of the main reasons why I liked this site the best is that its bloggers were university professors. And yet Diverse Education was in no way flawless in that it could have improved on its content and visual design whether it was through updating the frequency of entries or adding more images and videos. Overall, under guidelines from the Webby Awards and the 21st Century, the websites and blogs that are featured in the recommended sites provide pertinent information on the latest entertainment and media issues while enhancing the legitimacy of my blogfolio.

Although I have previously focused on media representations of women in popular magazines like Glamour, it is also important to engage in discourses on racial representations in cultural artifacts such as television shows. This week, I examine a blog from Diverse Education, which aims to cover current issues and affairs in higher education. More specifically, I analyze Dr. Elwood Watson's entry, "We Should Be Realistic About Racial Representation in Television." In his post, Dr. Watson provides a historical, as well as critical, analysis about racial representations in popular television shows, like Mad Men. While he briefly explains two contrasting debates on whether the creators and producers of "Mad Men" address racial conflicts on the show, he argues that racial representations of people of color are not, in most cases, accurate and precise. Therefore, although it is important to critically evaluate problematic issues regarding media portrayals of people of color, he encourages viewers of popular television shows to consider television as an entertainment value rather than an accurate source for the truth about society. Dr. Watson is a professor of history and African American Studies at East Tennessee State University. In dedicating his career to critically evaluate racial representations in society, he has also written several scholarly articles and books, namely Outsiders Within: Black Women in the Legal Academy After Brown v. Board. For convenience, I have also posted my comments to Dr. Watson's critical analysis below.

"We Should Be Realistic About Racial Representation in Television"

Comment

This is an interesting analysis on racial representations in current television shows like "Mad Men."  I thought your point that there is a problem with the media's representations of people of color--as well as other issues like sexism and homosexuality--on television was highly persuasive. I appreciate how you included both Latoya Peterson as well as David Swerdlick's discussion on whether the television show, "Mad Men," accurately addressed racial conflicts. As you have clearly articulated, although one might acknowledge writers and producers for their attempt to creatively include issues like racism and gender inequalities on mainstream television, I agree with your statement that sometimes these plots seem forced, or unnatural. However, why do we, as consumers of the media, feel that it is unconventional to have "a Black family [as] the major focus of 'The Soprano's' when the show is focused on Italian Americans who lived in northern New Jersey?" Is it a problem that viewers find it uncomfortable, and in some cases, annoying, if "whites have been prominently showcased in every single episode of 'The Cosby Show?'" If so, what can the creators and producers of television shows do to more accurately incorporate issues like racism without perpetuating dominant ideologies and stereotypes?  Although I see your point that these plots might seem forced - and even disagreeable to some viewers - I question how the media shapes the ways in which we are programmed to view television shows.

I agree with your argument that it is commendable for writers and producers to experiment with their shows and create plots that convey more diversity, but "the fact is that sometimes this may not always be the most accurate approach." While some aspects of the media might sustain credibility - interviews or biographies - I also believe that history books and documentaries provide more accurate information than television shows do.  However, while there might be a few people who would rather read books and watch historical documentaries, I think that the majority of the public rely on the media for information - regardless of its inaccurate approach. With that said, I take a different stance on your argument that "sometimes it is best to remind ourselves of the saying 'it's just a television show.'" Although it is important to view television as a source for entertainment, my concern is that many people [mis]interpret the media as a credible source for information. I would even venture to argue that some people watch more television than interact and communicate with others in society, thereby associating the media with "reality."  While television shows, like "Mad Men," satisfy viewers' demand for entertainment, it is important to encourage the audience to be critical analysts, rather than passive listeners, and challenge the stereotypes that the media perpetuates so that we, as consumers of mass media, can participate in discourses on issues - like racism, sexuality, and gender inequalities - that are so easily taken for granted.

From catwalks to magazine covers, there is plenty of skin and bone. For decades, the media has featured skinny models that resemble Twiggy, Elle Macpherson, and Kate Moss. While larger women rarely dominate popular magazines and high fashion runway shows like Fashion Week in Paris and New York, there are a few exceptions.  For example, Lizzie Miller (see left) is a plus-size model who has recently been featured in the successful magazine, Glamour. In addition, campaigns such as the Dove Campaign for Real Beauty continue to work with plus-size women whose sizes range from 6-14. In general, however, the fashion market maintains a thin industry. Although the status quo continues to value skinny supermodels in the entertainment and fashion business, with the process of negotiation between producers and consumers of images, one can only hope that the media will shift in a more positive direction by recognizing more "normal looking" women.

September's issue of Glamour featured average-size model, Lizzie Miller, who is in between a size 12 and 14. Despite the fact that she was not on the front cover or had a magazine spread, the public's reaction to her un-airbrushed, pin-up picture was phenomenal. According to an article on ABC News, this ad sent readers "gasping with delight." One reader who saw Miller's picture was thrilled to finally see a woman in a popular magazine who shared a body type akin to her own.  Likewise, other supporters were relieved to see a woman who could represent most American women. Editor-in-Chief of Glamour, Cindi Leive, stated that "letters about it started to flood my inbox literally the day Glamour hit newsstands," and went on to say with confidence that this was "the beginning of a revolution." Thus, some might argue that, based on the immense amount of positive feedback, the media is starting to recognize the need for more diversity in popular culture and fashion institutions. On one hand, Leive suggests that plus-size models are starting to change the course of the fashion enterprise. The positive feedback from Miller's photo in Glamour further implies that the public wants to see more "normal-looking" women, who are bigger than a size 0, in fashionable magazines. However, is the media finally changing the meanings and representations of plus-size women? Or has the status quo remained unchanged, thereby suggesting that skinny supermodels still dominate trendy magazines and high-fashion runway shows?

Based on the positive responses that Glamour received for Miller's natural and un-airbrushed picture, it is safe to say that many others and I are looking for more average-size women in the media to whom they can relate. Nevertheless, skinny supermodels (Naomi Campbell, Emanuela De Paula, and Gisele Bundchen on right) continue to overshadow average-size and plus-size models in the entertainment and fashion industries.  I feel that media artifacts such as magazines whose audience is pre-dominantly women--Cosmopolitan, Elle, and W to name a few--infiltrate the minds of these readers so that they continue to strive for "the perfect body." Miller's picture serves as an exemplar to those who believe that the media are moving towards a more positive direction by recognizing plus-size women. Nonetheless, there is still a growing gap between skinny supermodels and curvier women who dominate the fashion enterprise. While Glamour included a photo shoot with Miller in the September issue, readers have yet to see more average-size women in other widely accepted magazines that resemble Harper's Bazaar or Vanity Fair. Therefore, I speculate that Miller's un-airbrushed picture was positively influential to the public, but it did not have the same affect on entertainment and media institutions.

These media artifacts dominate women's minds by creating and publishing articles, blogs, and advertisements that manipulate them into thinking that they need to constantly improve their physical image. Even more so, cultural events similar, but not limited, to beauty pageants--Miss Teen USA, Miss America, and Miss Universe--potentially have a negative impact on women of all ages. One can argue that these pageants promote discipline, cultural diversity, and in some cases international unity, yet they ultimately pose a problematic message to women and inflict unhealthy, and often unrealistic, standards of physical beauty for women look up to. Thus, I believe that it will take more than just one well-known magazine and a few fashion shows to change the course of the entertainment business.

Lizzie Miller's photo in Glamour is one of the first steps toward recognizing more average-size women. Even more so, given the immense amount of positive feedback from this particular image, the creators and editors of Glamour have discussed possible plans for dedicating its November issue to plus-size models. If this plan is carried out, it will potentially be a small, but significant, move toward better representation of women in contemporary culture. At the same time, I think it is important to continue to challenge the media by being active participants, rather than passive listeners, so that images of average-size and plus-size women like Miller do not seem rare and unusual in popular magazines. While the media is headed towards a more positive direction by recognizing average-size and plus-size women, it is necessary to encourage the general public to participate in media discourses and challenge the status quo so that their voices are heard.  After all, we have the power to change the course of the entertainment and media industries.